After stumbling across the June 2012 issue of Beckett Sports Card Monthly in Barnes & Noble, I looked up some of the cards I was sure would make me rich one day. Looks like I'll be keeping the day job, at least until the Beanie Baby market recovers.

1. Ken Griffey, Jr., 1989 Upper Deck

$40
*

2. Mark McGwire, 1985 Topps

$20
*

3. Don Mattingly, 1984 Topps

$15
*

4. Roger Clemens, 1985 Topps

$15
*

5. Frank Thomas, 1992 Fleer Ultra

$0.50
*

6. Michael Jordan, 1991 Upper Deck

$8
*

7. Bo Jackson, 1987 Donruss

$5
*

8. David Cone, 1987 Topps Traded

$0.75
*

9. Dave Winfield, 1974 Topps

$50
*

10. Cal Ripken, Jr., 1982 Topps

$40
*

11. Ryne Sandberg, 1983 Topps

$20
*

12. Eddie Murray, 1978 Topps

$80
*

13. Andre Dawson, 1977 Topps

$20
*

14. Kirby Puckett, 1985 Topps

$12
*

15. Sammy Sosa, 1990 Upper Deck

$3
*

16. Greg Maddux, 1987 Donruss

$10
*

17. Ivan Rodriguez, 1992 Fleer Ultra

$0.50
*

18. Bret Saberhagen, 1984 Topps Traded

$4
*

19. Shaquille O'Neal, 1992-93 Upper Deck

$25 (I know the title said "35 Classic Baseball Cards," but "35 Classic Baseball Cards, a Handful of Basketball and Football Cards, and Even One Hockey Card" was too many characters.)
*

20. Shaquille O'Neal, 1992-93 Fleer Ultra

$10
*

21. John Stockton, 1988-89 Fleer

$20
*

22. Larry Johnson, 1991-92 Upper Deck

$1
*

23. Bo Jackson, 1988 Topps

$5
*

24. Barry Sanders, 1989 Pro Set

$6
*

25. Deion Sanders, 1989 Score

$10
*

26. Brett Favre, 1991 Upper Deck

$10
*

27. Warren Moon, 1985 Topps

$15
*

28. Steve Yzerman, 1984-85 Topps

$40
*

29. Ken Griffey, Jr., 1989 Donruss

$8
*

30. Mark McGwire, 1987 Donruss

$8
*

31. Tom Glavine, 1988 Fleer

$4
*

32. John Smoltz, 1989 Upper Deck

$5
*

33. Fred McGriff, 1987 Topps Traded

$0.60
*

34. Mike Mussina, 1991 Upper Deck

$2
*

35. Jeff Bagwell, 1992 Donruss

$2* * *
While my shoebox of cards won't put my kids through college (or buy any one textbook), it did bring back some great memories. My buddy Dave Jamieson wrote an excellent book on the history of card collecting called Mint Condition. Definitely worth a read if you enjoyed looking at these cards.